Statement by Board of Directors – September 14, 2009
The primary responsibility of the Board of Directors of CCCI is to preserve and protect the legacy of Crossroads as founded by David Mainse, which includes the integrity of the programming, finances, mission projects, reputation, and the interest of the donors.
Over the course of its investigation regarding the recent alleged investment scheme, the board has secured input from many trusted advisors, including clergy, securities lawyers, and forensic accountants. In addition, as Christian believers, the Members of the Board are also committed to safeguarding the care of the individuals involved.
We are pleased that Ron Mainse and Reynold Mainse have taken the time away from Crossroads to process the issues around the current circumstances and are actively engaged in their own personal and spiritual journeys, before renewing their public ministries. They have the prayers, love, and full support of the Board of Directors. We would like to assure our partners that while this matter has taken some time to process, the process of the Board of Directors is, and will continue to be, preserving the integrity of 100 Huntley Street. We are very thankful to all our partners who have prayed, called, sent letters and emails, and continued their financial support of the vital work of bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to our Nation and beyond, through our television and internet audiences.
We also appreciate the excellent ministry of Jim Cantelon and Moira Brown, who have willingly shared their wonderful communications gifts with us during this season as hosts of 100 Huntley Street. May all of our partners, staff, and friends continue to join us in Paul’s admonition.
Ephesians 6:13-14:
“Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,” (Amplified Bible)
Thank You for standing with us!
Kerry Carmichael,
Chair, Board of Directors, Crossroads Christian Communications, Inc.
The board has been moving into a governance position as stated previously by Crossroads CEO Doug McKenzie. There is nothing, not a word about the number of investors drawn into this alleged ponzi scheme by Ron and Reynold Mainse. There is no acknowledgement of significant harm done to family, staff and supporters who invested because of the Mainse brothers recommendations:  the brothers have stated they were victims, acknowledged they were victimizers. Prior statements from the board involved The Canadian Council of Christian Charities, the forensic audit and investigation to clear lack of ministry funds being used.
There is nothing on how Crossroads management chose to yank their key hosts off-air, whether that was a  Christian response or a panicked corporate protective move; one after US and Canadian media picked up on the brothers and cousin being named. No word on whether or not they and their wives remained on salary. Cousin David Rutledge left Crossroads around 2007 to work for Gordon Driver/Axcess.
Management and the board have not addressed why Rutledge remained on the Crossroads site as Director of Ministries months after this issue came to light.
How this has been handled has not been relational, and all the bible verses in the world are not going to undo the lack of public communication, transparency and openness needed in cases of alleged affinity fraud. There is no acknowledgement crisis communication could have been handled better. While the board took the steps to do a forensic accounting investigation, gave access to the Canadian Council of Christian Charities to maintain their standing, the board is not forthcoming about what other regulatory hurdles they have to clear.
How have they approached known investors? Have they handled media inquiries transparently?
That’s a no.
Again we do not know if the OSC is investigating. The crunch is coming in the US for Gordon Driver/Axcess. This isn’t over for Crossroads, but it appears from the statement the way is being paved for the return of their key hosts.
This isn’t spiritual warfare, this is the Mainse brothers and former employee and cousin David Rutledge making poor leadership decisions. That isn’t going to matter for hard core supporters, but as this continues to unfold.
“In addition, as Christian believers, the Members of the Board are also committed to safeguarding the care of the individuals involved.”
Crossroads management yanked the brothers and their wives off the air after media in the US and Canada picked up this story, not before. What individuals? The investors drawn in by Crossroads?
There is no word on the financial fallout of Crossroads hosts drawing in an unnamed number of investors, no word on the financial hit the show has taken or will take if the US case goes criminal and if the OSC decides to make a move. No word on Rev Can Charities investigating, no word on if the CRTC is satisfied with Crossroads performance.
I stand with what I said at the beginning of this in April/May. While learning and repentance are important, the question remains if either brother has the skills and common sense to return to head Crossroads Christian Communications. When does the board plan to bring their key hosts back, and move on? I suspect soon, donors won’t ask hard questions (if they did would they get answers?) investors are silent and hurting. Forgiveness can only be offered when a charity’s management comes clean.
Again, my heart goes out to investors who the board doesn’t have to be concerned about or address. How many? How many investors lost so much because of Crossroad connections?
 To beg donors using scripture to keep giving may be standard practise, but we do not know the toll this has actually taken, the trust broken as the investigation continues and US court actions unfold.
Just out of curiosity, have regular viewers noticed
how many of the regulars on the broadcast have
disappeared?
Rhonda Glenn, Lorna Dueck, Michael Bell
and Tim Cestnik have not been on the air for several
months. Michael Coren was on recently but only
to promote his new book that’s published by
Tristan Emmaneul’s Freedom Press.
Surely there are others who have not been on the
air since the major revelation and it would be interesting
to see which other regulars are no longer showing up.
The guests’ absence speak volumes about the entire
100 Huntley matter.
So–what other absentees shoudl be added to
the list of missing guests?
TO, Rhonda Glenn left the show to study law a few years ago, and I believe she has either just taken her bar exams or is very shortly about to, as she stated when she was interviewed as a guest on the show not long ago. From what I remember she also did act as a guest-host recently, unless that was a re-run.
Lorna Dueck likewise no longer works for the program – she has her own show called “Listen Up!” which airs on CTS.
I don’t think Michael Coren has ever worked as a host for Huntley St. directly as far as I know – he is a journalist and also has had his own show on CTS ever since the channel’s inception, The Michael Coren Show. (Interestingly, he used to be catholic, then became protestant and a few years ago decided to return to catholicism.)
I don’t recall anything about the other two people you mentioned. I also don’t know if any of the shows I mentioned could be considered to be offshoots of CCCI – Rhonda used to have her own show at the inception of CTS, before she went to work as a 100 Huntley St. host (before leaving to study law). Lorna Dueck as you mentioned also used to be a host on Huntley St. before leaving to start her own show on CTS.
David Mainse was the founder of CTS tv channel, it launched in 1998, but I don’t know have a clue about the relationship between the programs and the actual tv channel CTS, or Crossroads and CTS, if they are completely separate entities or not. All these people I mentioned of course know each other professionally, and they have all appeared on the 100 Huntley St. program either as hosts or guests or both, so Huntley St. has been a kind of hub in a way, of some of the other CTS programs.
@Therese.
When I said “regulars on the broadcast”, I meant regular
or occasional visitors–not co-hosts.
In the last sentence I use the phrase “missing guests”.
That in no way suggests co-hosts.
There are other contributors/visitors/guests to
the program who have been absent all this time and
I was hoping regular viewers will bring forth
their names.
While on the subject of Rhonda Glenn, her husband
is an Anglican minister and he and his partner Charlie
Masters have not been on the program since May.
They represent two more regulars now absent.
There must be others and I think their website
has scrubbed them out of existence.
Sorry, TO, I guess I was thrown off by the term “regulars”, but I was not meaning to criticize…I’ve been peeking into the show for years and thought I might be able to contribute some information….unfortunately I have a terrible memory to be very specific with some facts and dates at times though.